Name: Thornton, Matthew (1714-1803)
Title: Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Colonel in the militia
Londonderry, NH, Town Selectman
President, provincial congress of 1775 and chairman of the committee of safety
During the American Revolution he was a speaker of the house, a member of the council, and president of the constitutional convention.
President of New Hampshire House of Representatives
Associate Justice of the Superior Court, 1776-82
N.H. State Senate, 1784-86
Born: 1714
Birthplace: Ireland
Died: 06/24/1803
Death Location: Newburyport, MA
Residence: b. Ireland
Emigrated to Wiscasset or Brunswick, ME, 1717
Worcester, MA
Londonderry (now Derry), NH
Merrimack (Thornton's Ferry), NH
Nationality: Irish
Occupation: Physician -- first in Londonderry, second in Merrimack
Army surgeon
Statesman
Political essayist
Father: James Thornton
Mother: Elizabeth Thornton
Spouse: Hannah Jack (b. 1742 Chester, NH - d. 12/5/1786) m. 1760
Children: James Thornton
Andrew Thornton
Mary Thornton
Matthew Thornton
Hannah Thornton
Notes: Immigrated to America 1718, settled in MA. Studied medicine and went to Londonderry, NH, to practice in 1740. In 1745, he was under surgeon in the Louisburg expedition; became a colonel in the militia. In 1758, was a member of the legislature from Londonderry. In 1760, he married Hannah Jack.